When it comes to fishing a specific method for carp, boilie angling has been my go-to approach for many years. Whether it’s on large open waters or more commercial venues, these attraction-packed round balls have served me well – and there are several reasons why.
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GET AMONG THE GREEN
Lots of the waters I tend to target usually have some growth of weed, whether that’s thick Canadian pondweed or the more annoying silkweed.
Many people look to avoid weed and fish the more blatant areas, but this is where the natural goodness and food lives, so carp will gravitate towards these spots. If you grab some fresh growth and break it apart with your fingers, you’ll see it’s crawling with life, so why wouldn’t you look to use this to your advantage?
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SUPER EFFECTIVE RIGGING
When it comes to boilie fishing, I’ll usually look at using a Hinge Stiff rig, as it presents perfectly over any debris. It also gives the carp something to deal with which, in my opinion, is far tougher than a ‘Choddie’.
The Hinge has a lot more mobility underwater than a fixed Chod rig.
The Tungskin boom I use is stiff enough to push it away from the mainline/lead system, but provides enough movement to be approached from any angle by a carp. I also prefer to tie the rig in a ‘combi-rig’ style, rather than using a swivel, which can sometimes get caught on the fine strands of weed. It’s a far neater presentation and doesn’t restrict the movement as long as you loosen the fibres of the stripped-back section of the rig.
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MOBILE AND STEALTHY
This style of angling lends itself to being able to move easily and stay mobile, which can be the key to getting on the carp quickly and making the most of opportunities.
If I’m fishing at a shorter range then I can use a throwing stick or a catapult, which helps keep the disturbance levels down. You can be far more discreet, as you don’t need to smash up the water with a Spomb.
VERSATILE AND ATTRACTIVE
I think boilies are the ultimate carp food – they not only provide a nutrition-packed meal catering for their needs, but they can be used in multiple ways.
Depending on the lakebed and the substrate you’re fishing over, doing something as simple as halving your baits to slowly flutter down on top of the weed can help them present around your rig and not get buried.
If nuisance fish aren’t present and you can get away with it, crumbing up the bait can also help distribute lots of food particles around the spot.
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QUALITY COUNTS
Choosing a high-quality and nutritious bait is paramount to success with boilies. You’ve got to give them a food source which they want to eat, especially when you’re competing with natural items.
The Krill and Manilla baits from Sticky have been in my angling armoury for some time now and I can say I have the utmost confidence in them both to do the job I need the bait to do. No matter what venue I’ve been to, it’s been both these that have got me consistent results.
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As an angler, that’s worth its weight in gold because I can then focus on location and the other variable decisions I need to make for success.
Overall, boilie fishing is almost a forgotten art, as many anglers now look to include various items in their bait mixes, almost fishing in a one-dimensional manner. So, next time you’re looking for an edge over others and don’t want to fall into the trap of jumping on the ‘going thing’, revert to some old school tactics that are bound to put you some carp on the bank.
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